Elton John also sang a few songs with Lady Gaga, who made a surprise appearance at the event. They sang Gaga’s Speechless and moved on to John’s crowd favourite Your Song.
Tag: Elton John
Lady Gaga makes a surprise appearance
Even though she is the busiest artist on the planet right now, Lady Gaga surprised a lot of people yesterday (May 13). She appeared at Sting’s annual benefit concert in New York to support the Amazon rainforest.
Lady Gaga sat at a piano and performed a very dressed down and sober version of the classic song Stand By Me, originally sung by Ben E. King. She also sang another song during the evening, a duo with one of the biggest artists in history, Sir Elton John. It was reminiscent of the duo’s performance at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Gaga and Elton John performed the younger pop star’s song Speechless before moving on to Your Song, one of John’s most famous songs.
The night was full of surprises as several stars sang covers of popular songs. Bruce Springsteen sang Cuts Like A Knife by Bryan Adams. Elton John sang Madonna’s Like A Virgin and Material Girl in front of dancers wearing nothing but Speedos.
Sting got the evening started with a performance of Englishmen in New York, an appropriate song for this British chap hosting his event in the Big Apple. He returned to the stage later on to sing She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals.
Besides Lady Gaga, other female artists that performed include Mary J. Blige, Debbie Harry from Blondie and Shirley Bassey.
The benefit concert ended with all the stars chipping in to perform Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
Elton John will try again
The star and his partner refuse to let that setback derail their dream of becoming parents. Elton John said he believed his life with David Furnish would be complete with a child.
He shared: "I think that life’s all about learning; trying to learn a little bit more, change a little bit more, and I think a child would be the icing on the cake."
Lady Gaga and Elton John will reunite
Lady Gaga and Elton John will reunite on stage for the first time since they performed together during Gaga’s opening show at the Grammy Awards.
This time around, the two will perform at the semi-annual Rainforest Fund benefit concert, a cause close to Sting’s heart. The fund will celebrate its 21st birthday at the world renowned Carnegie Hall followed by a gala dinner.
Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler started the charitable rainforest foundation in 1989. It has raised $30 million so far for rainforest conservation.
Trudie Styler says, "When Sting and I first visited the rainforest in Brazil around 21 years ago we observed first hand the destruction to one of the world’s most precious resources and knew we had to do something."
The couple also invited Shirley Bassey to perform. She is best known for her recording of three James Bond theme songs, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.
According to one rumour, all four stars will converge on the stage at one point to sing a rendition of the song Hey Big Spender.
A tragic moment in Elton John’s past
Singer Elton John decided to adapt the play Next Fall for the Broadway stage. Orange News reports the story reminds him of an ex-boyfriend who killed himself.
John and his husband, David Furnish, will produce the play together. It is about a gay couple whose relationship is affected by a tragedy.
This story really touched the singer on a personal level. He admits he was deeply affected by the suicide of an ex-boyfriend he did not name.
John reveals, "Years back I had a relationship, and I had absolutely no idea in the world he was going to do this… he threw himself under a truck. There was so much grief."
The play Next Fall debuted on Broadway in New York last Thursday (March 11).
Elton John married his partner David Furnish in 2005.
Furnish added, "He was so tortured by the conflicting views between his sexuality and his strong religious beliefs that he chose to take his own life. It is very sad indeed."
Man threatens Elton John
A Georgia man was arrested and charged with making terrorist threats, Daily News reports. This is not just any regular citizen. The man is a candidate in the state’s gubernatorial race.
He posted a video on YouTube which shows him threatening Elton John.
Atlanta police sergeant Curtis Davenport confirms that Neal Horsley was arrested Wednesday (March 10) in Carrollton, Georgia. He was charged with making terrorist threats, criminal defamation and using the Internet to disseminate threats.
Davenport refused to identify the person who was threatened. However, the son of the accused said he believes the arrest is linked to a video his father made about Elton John.
In the video, Horsley takes issue with comments the singer made in a magazine interview last month about his belief that Jesus Christ was gay. Horsley can be seen holding up a sign that says "Elton John Must Die."
Horsley was detained yesterday (March 11) at the Fulton county prison and is being held on $40,000 bail.
This man has already had a run in with the law. In 2002, he used another website to threaten and condemn doctors who perform abortions.
Elton John’s rep, Fran Curtis, had no comment on this story.
Singer Elton John has been married to a Canadian man, David Furnish, since 2005. He was the focus of a lot of online protests after he made those comments about Jesus.
Elton’s party was a smashing success
Elton John’s 2010 post-Oscars AIDS Foundation party was an unqualified success. The singer raised $3.7 million dollars in just a few hours, Starpulse reports.
John and his partner, David Furnish, invited lots of celebrities to attend, including Betty White, Nicole Richie and Victoria Beckham. John has been throwing this party for the last 18 years to raise money for the fight against AIDS.
There was a magnificent dinner and a live performance by Grace Jones. Guests were then invited to participate in an auction. Elton John sold the outfit he wore to the Grammy Awards in January, plus a watch from his collection.
The host also sold a weeklong stay at his house in Nice, France. That sold for $140,000.
Other items included a photo of President Barack Obama at college and private tennis lessons from Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff.
The singer said, "I’m so blown away this year. We’re supposedly struggling though a recession and yet it keeps getting better every year."
New Elton John album
According to Billboard, Elton John and Leon Russell are working together to record a new album in Los Angeles with T-Bone Burnett. The two artists wrote songs for the new as-yet-named album. No release date has been announced.
It looks like Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Marc Ribot and Jim Keltner all contributed to the album. A message on Bernie Taupin’s website says no fewer than 15 songs have already been recorded. Taupin is a longtime Elton John collaborator.
Taupin mentions, "It’s varied in scope and drenched in a rich tapestry of atmospherics. Don’t expect to hear the old EJ/BT sound; this is organic recording unlike anything you’ve heard from our duo before."
Elton John’s last studio album, The Captain and the Kid, came out in 2006. He also went out on tour with Bill Joel in spring 2009.
Leon Russell has stayed out of the spotlight over the past few years. He has been releasing various albums on his own record label, Leon Russell Records.
No summer tour for Billy and Elton
What seemed like a second chance to see two legends with two pianos reunite on stage will not happen. Billy Joel says media reports he will do a summer tour with Elton John are not true.
"There was never a tour booked this summer!" says Billy Joel, responding to Internet claims that he pulled the plug on a summer tour with Elton John.
He continues, "Obviously, this has the smell of a really juicy story: ‘Why did they cancel? Did Billy and Elton have a fight? What’s going on?’ The truth is, there’s nothing going on. I had made up my mind a long time ago that I wasn’t going to work this year."
The two singers are currently performing shows on their Face 2 Face tour. But these concerts are make-up shows to replace shows that were cancelled in 2009.
Rumours leaked about the possibility of a concert at Boston’s Fenway Park and another at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Joel says neither he nor Elton John was involved in the discussions.
Elton John even seemed to believe the rumours. He commented, "I just found out you weren’t going to be working this year, and I was heartbroken because I was looking forward to doing it."
Elton John causes some controversy
Elton John has angered a lot of web surfers by telling an online interviewer how he thinks Jesus Christ was gay, reports Starpulse.
The singer has received lots of protest from outraged bloggers about comments he made to Parade.com: "I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems."
This remark has led to a lot of negative criticism.
One blogger says, "I will never listen to this man’s music again. How dare he speak of my Lord in such a disgraceful way. He should not speak on things he knows nothing about. I hope and pray that all Christians will take a stand on this one. Elton John’s lifestyle speaks for itself."
Another writes, "John is now the authority on Christ? Jesus Christ was as gay as Saddam Hussein is alive."
One outraged Christian states, "While I have had some appreciation for Elton John’s music…he could not be further from the truth on this matter regarding Jesus. It is clearly stated in Leviticus 18:22, 23; that Christ sees homosexuality as an abomination."
Singer Elton John married his boyfriend David Furnish in 2005.